Solicitor's Files

angelfire9

Simple question
How long does a solicitor keep client files (for closed cases) for?

Say you had a legal agreement written up by your solicitor years ago and everything was fine and dandy for 10 years but then the other party to the agreement pulled out and you need to get a copy of the original file (including all the correspondence between parties prior to the agreement being drawn up)

Would the solicitor who dealt with it still have the files?


Additionally, what happens to those kind of files when the solicitor retires without passing his practice on to another legal eagle?

SATSUMA

angelfire9 wrote: »

Simple question
How long does a solicitor keep client files (for closed cases) for?

Say you had a legal agreement written up by your solicitor years ago and everything was fine and dandy for 10 years but then the other party to the agreement pulled out and you need to get a copy of the original file (including all the correspondence between parties prior to the agreement being drawn up)

Would the solicitor who dealt with it still have the files?


Additionally, what happens to those kind of files when the solicitor retires without passing his practice on to another legal eagle?

I think the file is held for six years.

Would the parties to the agreement not have a copy of it? Depends on type of agreement you are referring too. It's too vague to answer.

All live files are passed on to another solicitor who deals with them.

Your file could well be destroyed depending on the nature of the agreement. Would need more information. Perhaps go seek legal advice.

angelfire9

Total hypothetical scenario
Thanks for the reply
6 years is standard in accountancy I was just curious about it as I got a call yesterday looking for financial data from 2008 for a client I used to represent it took me all day to find the files with the clients solicitor ringing me hourly lecturing me on the inefficiencies of my archive :mad:

SATSUMA

Well thats bull, you should have told the solicitor to write to you formally requesting what s/he wanted. That would give you time to find the file. It wouldn't be unreasonable to give you a couple of days.Hope you charged a scrivenery fee for your troubles!!! lol

angelfire9

SATSUMA wrote: »

Well thats bull, you should have told the solicitor to write to you formally requesting what s/he wanted. That would give you time to find the file. It wouldn't be unreasonable to give you a couple of days.Hope you charged a scrivenery fee for your troubles!!! lol

No charge as of yet as obviously I got paid for the work when it was done back in '08
Nice idea though thanks!!!!!!

It would appear though that the company directors are having a bit of a spat over directors loans going back years and if it ends up in court I'll be throwing them a nice hefty bill for my troubles
As a horder I have copies of everything from 2000 onwards which I must sort out one of these days but if they want me to start dredging through my files I'll be keeping a record of the time I'll spend on it and charge them for the priviledge
Its not like they weren't provided with their own copies of everything PLUS their auditors should have kept copies of the final end of year a/c's but apparently I'm the only one who can find the files despite my inefficient filing system! :rolleyes:

Milk & Honey

It can be 12 years for some files. The limitation period on a deed is 12 years as is the limitation period on a court order.